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ANCIENT HEROES AND PERILOUS JOURNEYS
FORGOTTEN , BUT NOT LOST
The Unsung Founder of Thebes
The hero of this edition is Cadmus of Thebes , who , despite having gone on numerous journeys and adventures , seems to slip through the cracks of mythology at times . While seldom remembered , Cadmus will never truly be forgotten or lost as his largest contribution , founding Thebes , remains permanently marked on any map . Through traveling from his homeland Tyre , following a cow , defeating a dragon , and serving Ares , Cadmus had his fair share of adventures . Read about his main journey below !
“ BUT AS ALWAYS , YOU MUST WAIT TO SEE THE END OF A PERSON , AND NO ONE OUGHT TO BE CALLED BLESSED UNTIL HE DIES AND HIS FUNERAL IS OVER .”
CADMUS AND THE SPARTOI
A Tale of Anger And Dragons
~ Ovid , referencing Cadmus , The Metamorphoses
Cadmus ' s sister is the famous Europa , who was kidnapped by Jupiter . While several of his sibilings searched for Europa , Cadmus traveled to the oracle of Delphi , who instructed Cadmus to follow a cow . Sure enough , Cadmus found a cow nearby and followed it until it promptly laid down and died . On this spot , Cadmus founded the city of Thebes .
Cadmus ' s journey was over yet , however . While his men were getting water from a nearby stream , a dragon , a son of Ares , killed them . Angered by the death of his companions , Cadmus killed the dragon , causing a band of fierce warriors to spring up out of the ground and attack . At the end of the battle , only five men were left . Tired of fighting , they made peace and called themselves the " Spartoi " or " sown men ". Many Ancient Thebians claimed to have been directly descended from the Spartoi .